Indonesia's peacemaker dream shattered by US-Iran conflict

Following joint strikes launched by the United States and Israel on Iran on Feb 28, Indonesia - the world's largest Muslim-majority country — offered to help reduce tensions and promote dialogue.

- Arlina Arshad Indonesia Bureau Chief

Its Foreign Ministry expressed “deep regret” over the collapse of US-Iran negotiations, urged restraint, and said Mr Prabowo is ready to facilitate dialogue and travel to Tehran if both sides agree.

“President of the Republic of Indonesia has expressed readiness to facilitate dialogue to restore security and, if agreed by both parties, he is willing to travel to Tehran to mediate,” said the ministry.

The offer to be a peacemaker came on the heels of Mr Prabowo’s brief trip to the Middle East, which had been designed to showcase Indonesia’s international reach.

In Jordan, he met King Abdullah II and reaffirmed support for a two-state solution envisioning Israel and a future Palestinian state living side by side. In Abu Dhabi, he marked 50 years of diplomatic relations while deepening cooperation in energy, trade and investment.

The optics were deliberate. Indonesia was presenting itself as a bridge - trusted in Arab capitals, yet maintaining working ties with Washington, including by participating in President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, a US-led initiative aimed at stabilising Gaza and supporting Palestinian reconstruction.

But the sharp escalation in tensions and the announcement of Iran leader Ali Khamenei’s death highlighted the limits of Mr Prabowo’s diplomatic ambitions.

The offer to be a peacemaker signalled intent. But analysts say it underscores a lack of understanding of the situation.

Mr Muhammad Waffaa Kharisma, an international relations researcher at the Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said the mediation offer showed a misjudgment of the context.

“The mediation offer is mistimed and shows a bit of a lack of understanding of context. The US and Israel suggest they are hellbent on regime change, and they have shown they can do it. Offering to go to Tehran to mediate fails to consider how real and severe the situation has been,” he told The Straits Times.